Complete Guide to the Lagotto Romagnolo
Introduction
The Lagotto Romagnolo is one of the oldest and most fascinating Italian breeds. Born as a water retriever in the Comacchio valleys, today it is known all over the world as the finest truffle dog in existence.
But the Lagotto is not only about work: it is an affectionate, intelligent, sensitive and surprisingly well-balanced companion.
In this guide you will discover:
- what makes the Lagotto unique
- how to care for it every day
- what to do and what to avoid
- how to train it the right way
- how to manage coat, health and activity
Origins and temperament
The Lagotto was born in Romagna as a water dog, then specialised in searching for truffles.
Its temperament is:
- gentle and affectionate
- highly intelligent
- sensitive to its owner’s emotions
- a tireless worker
- well-balanced with children and other animals
It is a dog that loves its family and lives to please its human.
How to care for a Lagotto
🧼 Coat care
The Lagotto has a curly, woolly coat that does not shed like other breeds, but it does require:
- brushing 2–3 times a week
- a full grooming session every 2–3 months
- regular ear checks (they tend to trap moisture)
One much appreciated aspect is that the Lagotto is one of the few breeds considered hypoallergenic: it sheds very little hair and produces fewer allergens than most dogs, which makes it suitable even for many sensitive people.
🍽 Feeding
The Lagotto is a sturdy dog, but it tends to put on weight if not kept in check.
Advice:
- regular meals
- quality kibble
- avoid table scraps
- watch the treats during training
🏃♂️ Physical activity
It is an active dog:
- 1–2 hours of exercise a day
- scent games
- walks in nature
- mental activity (essential!)
Training the Lagotto
The Lagotto is an easy dog to train, but it requires:
- consistency
- gentleness
- no harshness
- no shouting
It is a sensitive dog: if you scold it too much, it shuts down.
If you motivate it, it gives you its soul.
What to do and what NOT to do
✔ What to do
- reward it when it understands
- give it clear routines
- offer it scent work
- socialise it from puppyhood
- devote time to it every day
❌ What NOT to do
- leave it alone for too many hours
- treat it harshly
- neglect the coat
- let it get overweight
- give it too little stimulation
🩺 Common diseases of the Lagotto Romagnolo
The Lagotto is a generally healthy and long-lived breed, but like all dogs it has a few genetic predispositions and recurring problems that are worth knowing about in order to prevent them.
🦴 Hip dysplasia
It is one of the best known conditions in medium-sized breeds. It consists of an alteration of the hip joint that can cause pain, lameness and osteoarthritis.
What to do:
- choose breeders who test their breeding stock (HD-A / HD-B)
- keep the dog at its ideal weight
- avoid jumps and stairs in the first months of life
- prefer regular, controlled activity
👂 Recurring ear infections
The Lagotto has drop ears and a very dense coat: this creates a warm, humid environment that can encourage inflammation and infection.
What to do:
- check the ears every week
- dry them thoroughly after a bath
- remove excess hair
👁 Hereditary cataract
Some Lagottos can develop hereditary forms of cataract, even at a young age.
What to do:
- choose breeders who carry out eye tests (ECVO)
- have periodic veterinary check-ups
- watch for any changes in eyesight
🧠 Idiopathic epilepsy
It is rare, but present in the breed. It shows up as seizures with no apparent cause.
What to do:
- contact the vet immediately at the first episodes
- follow a consistent therapy if needed
- avoid excessive stimuli during the post-seizure phase
💡 In short
The Lagotto is a sturdy dog, but prevention makes the difference:
- regular veterinary check-ups
- consistent grooming
- correct weight management
- balanced physical activity
- choosing serious breeders who run genetic tests
The Lagotto and the truffle
The Lagotto is the only dog in the world selected exclusively for searching truffles.
It has:
- an extraordinary sense of smell
- incredible focus
- a natural predisposition to work
Not every Lagotto becomes a truffle hunter, but every one of them carries that spark inside.
And what about the hunting instinct?
FCI standard No. 298 claims that in the Lagotto the hunting instinct has been modified by genetic selection. People who live with a Lagotto, however, often tell the opposite story: it points, chases, sets, retrieves — behaviours that have nothing to do with truffle-searching training.
The same thing is missing between the sentence in the standard and the owners’ accounts: numbers. That is why we have opened a public, anonymous observatory.
👉 Answer the Behavioural Observatory questionnaire — 5 questions, no personal data, 2 minutes. The dataset will be sent to FCI and ENCI: the more answers come in, the better what it says holds up. The aggregate counts are public and updated every Monday.
Conclusion
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a special dog: intelligent, affectionate, elegant and deeply attached to its human.
With the right care it becomes an extraordinary life companion, able to give love, balance and — for those who want it — great satisfaction in the world of truffles.
← Back to Lagotto